Royal Ascot on the agenda for progressive Rain Delay
“We thought he’d need the race”, said Lyons’ brother, Shane. “He’s a gutsy horse and Keagan (Latham) gave him a great ride.”
Miss Gorica, fresh from defying 10-8 in a handicap at Navan last Sunday, set a furious gallop and had most of these in trouble a long way out.
The exception, however, was the winner, who challenged entering the final furlong and was just the stronger in the last hundred yards.
Continued Lyons: “Keagan and I walked the track twice, before and after the first race, and decided the best of the ground was on the far side.
“The plan is the Greeenlands (Curragh) and then the Wokingham at Royal Ascot, he’s improving.”
Tommy Stack’s High Award was always long odds-on in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Race, but proved no match for the Willie McCreery trained Lightening Thief.
This winner paid a generous compliment to Jim Bolger’s Head Space, who beat him by five lengths at Naas.
Smartly into his stride, Lightening Thief made just about all to beat High Award by an easy two lengths.
Said McCreery: “We might get a few tails and bowler hats and see where we go, he learned a lot from the first day!
“I’m delighted for Rory (Cleary), who is now off the cold list and is a hard-working kid.’’
The Stack bandwagon was back in full flow, however, following the Cork Racecourse Maiden for colts and geldings, with victory going to Blasket Spirit.
The son of King’s Best, owned by Charles Haughey’s widow, Maureen, and backed from 3-1 to 2-1, led under two furlongs down for Wayne Lordan and stretched clear of uneasy favourite, Echoes Of History.
Fozzy Stack represented his father and said: “He’s improving, but has had three quick races and will be given a break.”
Bravely Fought lived up to his name when defying top weight in the July Mallow Town Race Night Handicap.
Powerfully handled by Gary Carroll, the five-year-old swept past Art Broker inside the furlong pole to score going away.
Trainer, Sabrina Harty, reported: “He got stronger through the winter and had a little wind operation before Christmas which helped. He might go for a maiden hurdle next, as long as the ground is good.”
One Of Three, who made little show behind Slapper at Limerick previously, took the Mallow Handicap.
The daughter of Tamarisk made all of the running, also partnered by Carroll, staying on to repel Option Be by a comfortable two lengths.
“She’s a nice filly”, said Johnny Murtagh, with more than a hint of understatement, after Aidan O’Brien’s Awe Inspiring had run away with the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.
The daughter of Montjeu was soon in front and lengthened in style up the straight to beat the very promising Dermot Weld-trained Be My Storm by three and a half lengths.
Awe Inspiring was taken from 11-8 to 9-10, although as high as 9-4 was available in the morning.
Andy Slattery’s Ruby Suesday got the full Declan McDonogh treatment to shoot on inside the furlong and beat As You Like It a length and a half in the www.corkracecourse.ie Handicap.
